STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Richard Miuccio never asked for much and he'd give you the cross off his neck. When his truck broke down, he walked wherever he had to go so as to not put anyone out for a ride. When he woke at daybreak, he wanted nothing more than a cup of coffee, the Holy Bible and his wife by his side. And when a loved one needed guidance, Mr. Miuccio removed the cross he wore around his neck and offered it as a gift.

Worn as a testament to his faith, the cross was seen by those who loved Mr. Miuccio as a trademark that came to define him: Religious, unselfish and spiritual. His family believes those characteristics helped the 55-year-old South Beach man on Sept. 11 before he fell among the missing of the World Trade Center catastrophe.

"There were two places my husband wanted to be — with me and in heaven," said his wife, the former Joyce Black. "My priest told me my husband took the express to heaven. He was a good man."

An auditing supervisor with the state Department of Taxation and Finance, Mr. Miuccio worked on the 86th floor of 2 World Trade Center and was last seen descending the stairs at the 78th floor. He had recently celebrated his 35th year with the agency.

Of the roughly 200 people in his office, 39 are dead or missing. The ratio tells his family that Mr. Miuccio stayed true to his character in those desperate hours and helped people escape.

"Because Uncle Richie believed in the Lord and had no fear of dying, he unselfishly stayed to help his co-workers and friends [rather] than run off on his own," said his niece, Jacqueline Miuccio. "I just wish for once he was selfish and didn't have to die a hero so soon."

Born in Tompkinsville, Mr. Miuccio grew up in the South Beach Houses at a time when next-door neighbors were best of friends and not just the people next door. His wife was living in an adjacent building when the two met as young teen-agers, and a courtship developed through his years at St. Peter's Boys High School.

Like so many young men of his generation, Mr. Miuccio was drafted into the Army shortly after graduating from high school. His job with the Department of Taxation and Finance was in its infancy when he left for Vietnam in 1967. He married Mrs. Miuccio while on leave from his tour of duty and the couple moved to Rosebank when he returned from the war in 1969. They moved back to South Beach six months ago.

Mr. Miuccio held a bachelor's degree in accounting from the College of Staten Island.

For a quiet and private man, Mr. Miuccio had a fabulous sense of humor. He was one of the few people who cracked up his brother, Fire Department Battalion Chief Robert Miuccio. When Mr. Miuccio and a bunch of relatives recently visited his mother in St. Elizabeth Ann's Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clifton for her birthday, he led the gathering in a ballpark "wave" around her bed.

Mr. Miuccio never missed a daily visit with his mother at the home. No matter how much the long commute from work had tired him out, he never failed to drop in and say hello.

He was often accompanied by his sister, Mary Urs, with whom he would reminisce about their childhood and console their ailing mother. "While on earth, Richie was his family and friends' delight. Now in heaven, he's God's delight," Mrs. Urs said.

Comforting his loved ones was what Mr. Miuccio did best. When his nephew, Michael, underwent brain surgery, Mr. Miuccio watched over him and prayed for him every day of his stay in the hospital.

He also assumed the role of a father figure for his brother-in-law, Larry Black, when Mr. Black lost his father at a young age. He remembers how Mr. Miuccio took him camping and to the movies as a youngster.

Mr. Miuccio was an active parishioner of St. Mary's R.C. Church in Rosebank. During the holiday season and before Easter, he and his wife would host gatherings for parishioners where they would take turns interpreting the scriptures.

He and his wife did everything together, whether it was strolling along the South Beach boardwalk after dinner, going to church, or walking Sister, their German shepherd. About the only time they didn't spend together was when Mr. Miuccio's affinity for animals led him to the racetracks at Aqueduct or Belmont.

He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, Krystina and Marcus Miuccio.

"He was a very special man and he will be missed very much by us, especially me. He was the love of my life," Mrs. Miuccio said.

"He was my father and my best friend," said his son, Owen.

Surviving in addition to his wife, son, brother, sister and grandchildren, are another son, Thomas; his daughter, Laura Miuccio; and his mother, Julia Miuccio.

A memorial mass is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. in St. Mary's Church. Friends and family may arrive at the church at 10 a.m.